Hog Wild West Barbecue Contest approaches

People visiting downtown Leavenworth next week should have a variety of activities to choose from.In addition to the Buffalo Bill Days Festival, there will be the second annual Hog Wild West Barbecue Contest.

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By John Richmeier

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeier

Posted Sep. 7, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By John Richmeier
Posted Sep. 7, 2013 at 9:00 AM

People visiting downtown Leavenworth next week should have a variety of activities to choose from.

In addition to the Buffalo Bill Days Festival, there will be the second annual Hog Wild West Barbecue Contest.

The barbecue contest, which is being organized by the Leavenworth Main Street Program, will be from 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 13 and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 14.

Co-coordinator Susan Pierce described the Hog Wild West Barbecue Contest as a mini festival.

The festivities will include a Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned contest. There will be live music throughout the event, with various bands performing.

Pierce said the Gunsmoke and Petticoats group will perform Old West skits.

The event will feature inflatable attractions and rides. There also will be children's games, and pony-driven wagon rides.

Visitors will be able to purchase beer, and there will be food vendors.

Pierce said there even will be a mechanical bull.

Joey Denney, who's coordinating the barbecue contest portion of the event, said Friday that 31 teams have signed up.

"I'm hoping we will get two or three more," he said.

He said teams will be competing in four meat categories.

"It is a lot of fun," he said of barbecue contests.

He said monetary prizes will be presented to winning teams. Trophies and ribbons also will be awarded.

The grand champion will qualify for an American Royal invitational barbecue contest and entered into a drawing for a spot in a Jack Daniel's invitational barbecue contest.

There will be a People's Choice tasting tent set up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 in which people can sample food prepared by the competing teams and vote for their favorites. Admission will be $5.

Pierce said tickets for the tasting tent can be purchased in advance from the Main Street office, 416 Cherokee St., or at the event.

After the barbecue contest is wrapped up Sept. 14, members of the Leavenworth Cruiser Car Club will set up a vehicle display, Pierce said.

The Buffalo Bill Days Festival, which is being organized by a separate group of community volunteers, is scheduled for 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 14 and 11 to 6 p.m. Sept. 15.